As a general rule, all materials have environmental burdens, so using less of a material is always better and choosing the best material is really about choosing the lesser of evils. There are a few exceptions to this principle, however—at least in theory. For example, products made from problematic waste... Read more

On June 25, the GMAC Mortgage Corporation, a subsidiary of General Motors, announced an initiative with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to provide

long-term, low-cost financing for solar energy systems. This represents an expansion of the mortgage offerings for energy-efficient housing by GMAC Mortgage. The announcement... Read more

Global Green USA is producing a report which, the group claims, identifies

$1 billion in savings from energy- and resource-efficiency benefits in public and assisted housing. The recommendations resulted from an April 28 Policy Roundtable that Global Green USA hosted on Capitol Hill, and were presented to Secretary of Housing and Urban... Read more

by Alan Weisman, 1998. Chelsea Green Publishing, Inc., White River Junction, Vermont. Hardcover, 230 pages, $22.95.

Horton Lees Lighting Design, Inc. is the recipient of this year’s Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

Award for Energy Efficient Lighting for Commercial Buildings, in honor of its work on the new terminal at Washington National Airport. This award is one of those included in the International Illumination... Read more

by Hanno Beck and others, June 1998. Published by Friends of the Earth, 1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20005; 202/783-7400 x 239. Booklet, 60 pages, $15 postpaid.

New York State is now among the most photovoltaic-friendly in the nation (weather notwithstanding) with passage of a bill that corrects an error in the August 1997

Solar Choice Act. That Act required utility companies to provide “net metering” to homeowners, allowing them to run their meters backwards whenever their PV systems generate... Read more

While we’re talking solar . . . the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in New York City is featuring

a special exhibit of solar designs and technologies entitled “Under the Sun: An Outdoor Exhibition of Light.” Architectural highlights include a glass pavilion made of clear and PV glass panels designed... Read more

First discovered in Florida in 1997,

Asian swamp eels, or rice eels as they are sometimes known, are becoming firmly established in ditches, canals, and streams near Tampa and Miami, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This highly adaptable tropical species—it can breathe air, survive in just a few inches of water, even migrate... Read more

Five reports from the Portland Cement Association, 5420 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077; 847-966-6200, 847-966-9781 (fax). Available at no charge for one year by contacting Natalie Holz at PCA.

Radon has received a great deal of attention over the past fifteen years. Most architects and builders today have at least a general understanding of the radon issue, even if they are not familiar with the details of radon control. Though radon is the most serious threat overall, there are many other soil gases that builders of environmentally... Read more

Arizona residents will vote on governor Jane Hull’s proposal to spend $190 million over 10 years to

preserve open space according to the May/June 1998 issue of

Common Ground. The measure would be paid for with corporate income taxes. Another ballot initiative in Arizona, this one requiring cities to adopt urban growth boundaries... Read more

The developers of STAPLES Center sports arena in Los Angeles achieved a remarkable

98% recycling rate for demolition waste when razing the existing North Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. More than 16,000 tons of waste were kept out of area landfills through the effort, which was done in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles... Read more

The

Kich’n Komposter, reviewed back in 1993 (EBNVol. 2, No. 3), is now available directly from the manufacturer. This device makes garbage disposals more environmentally friendly by allowing the user to divert organic solids from the drain line into a basket, which spins the water out and stores the waste for composting. Cost is about $... Read more

August 3 is the entry deadline for

Q=E: The Patagonia International Design Competition, which seeks designs (not limited to buildings) proving that quality and environmental performance are the same. Over $35,000 in cash and merchandise will be awarded. Architect William McDonough and physicist Amory Lovins are... Read more

To the best of our knowledge, this product is no longer available.

Plants are in trouble. The first-ever worldwide assessment of the status of vascular plants (these are the dominant land plants) does not look good. “The IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants,” published by IUCN – The World Conservation Union, shows that

one in eight

plant species is at risk of extinction. In the U.S., 4... Read more

Having participated in the original “Access Flooring” article [

EBNVol. 7, No. 1, January 1998] and followed the subsequent commentaries, I found it interesting that the discussion focused on floor-to-floor heights and somewhat overlooked the impact of displacement ventilation.

From our experience, Mr.... Read more

A dozen San Francisco Bay communities, including the most recent, Windsor, have now adopted

urban growth boundaries. According to the May/June issue of

Common Ground, three city counselors who had faced recall elections because of their support of urban growth boundaries have held their seats by a wide voter margin.